Explosive-engine.



PATENTED NOV. 8. 1904.

R. MILLER.

EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 14. 1903.

2 SHEETSSHEET '1.

N0 MODEL' //%zass es PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904.

R. MILLER.

EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPL IOATION FILED SEPT. 14. 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

fiw'ezziar UNITED STATES Patented November 8, 1904.

ROBERT MILLER, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

EXPLOSlVE-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 774,392, dated November8, 1904.

To all whom it may concern:

A city, (Bronx,) county and State of New York,

have invented new and useful Improvements in Explosive-Engines, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to an explosive-engine of simple construction andgreat thermodynamic efiiciency. This efliciency is obtained by aninitial pressure of high intensity, due to thorough scavenging and to acomplete expansion and utilization of the explosive charge.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a horizontal section, partlyin plan, of my improved explosive-engine; Fig. 2, a vertical section ofthe same, partly broken away; and Fig. 3, a cross-section on line 3 3,Fig. 2.

The letters A A represent the cylinders of a two-cycle explosive-engine,divided by a head A and containing pistons B. Each cylinder is stepped,having abore of varying diameter, the outer section a being of greaterdiameter than the inner section a. The cylinder-sections a a are dividedby a step (0 that extends at right angles to the axis of the cylinder.Each piston Bis hollow and is also stepped, as at 6 being composed ofsections 7) Z), that correspond in diameterto the respective diametersof the cylinder-sections a a. Thus two separate working chambers a a areformed, of which the chamber a is annular. The chamber 11/ whichconstitutes an explosion-chamber, is located at the inner end ofcylinder-section a, while the chamber a, which constitutes anexpansion-chamber, is formed between the reduced piston-section I), thewall of the enlarged cylinder-section a, and the steps (L2 b Thechambers a (4* are adapted to communicate with each other by a by-pass0, controlled at its inner end by a balanced valve 0 and opening-intochamber (4* through step (0 The stem 0 of valve 0 is engaged by a cam(Z, mounted upon a shaft (Z, which is rotated in manner hereinafterdescribed. The valve is timed to open during or immediately after theexplosion of the charge, so that while a part of the exploded chargeacts upon the I head 6 of piston-section 6 another part is conveyed tochamber a through opened valve 0 and by-pass 0, thus simultaneouslyacting upon the piston-step 5 The valve 0 remains open during the entireforward stroke of the piston and is closed at or about the completion ofsuch stroke.

The pistons B B are connected to one another byscrew-rods a, passingthrough perforations of steps 72 and carrying collars e and nuts '6 Therods e are .slidable in perforations or sleeves of the cylinder-walls,so that both pistons move simultaneously in the same direction. To oneof the pistons B is connected by pivot 6* a pitman f, that engages thecrank g of power-shaft g. The latter is rotatable in suitable bearings gand carries atone end a beveled gear-wheel 9", while the otherend isprovided with a crank g2 engaging a pitman h of a gas-pump H. Thegear-wheel g engages a beveled gearwheel 6Z2, fast on shaft (Z, so thatthe rotation of power-shaft Q will be transmitted to shaft (Z.

The explosive charge may. be introduced into chamber a (that constitutesthe compression and explosion chamber) from the fuelmagazine in anysuitable manner, according to the nature of the explosive medium. Thedrawings show the invention applied to a gas engine; but it is obviousthat different explosive charges and different means for introducing thesame may be employed. If, for instance, coal-dust is to be used, theconstruction must be adapted for thisparticular purpose.

The gas-pump H, having cylinder h and piston h, is double-acting,.sothat at each stroke a certain quantity of gas is driven alternatelythrough either of the fuel-pipes 1' 2? into either of theexplosion-chambers a a of the two cylinders A. The quantity of gasadmitted is regulated by inlet-valves a to accord to the work of theengine, said valves being influenced by the governor (not shown) in theusual manner. Between the outlet of each pipe Z and theexplosion-chamber a there is mounted avalve 7', influenced by spring 7"and controlling the admission of gas and also the admission of air.

For compressing the air I employ the pistons B B in the followingmanner: The enlarged section a of each cylinder A is extended beyond theterminal position of the piston. This extended section is closed by awall a,

so that an aircompression chamber a is formed. In order to reduce theentire length of the engine, part of crank-shaft g g is inclosed withinone of the chambers a. Each chamber a has a check-valve (flfor theadmission of air by suction during the inward stroke of the piston. Thechamber a is connected to the chamber a by an air-pipe la, having valve7;, such pipe connecting, therefore, the cylinder at opposite ends ofthe piston. The outflow of compressed air from pipe K: into chamber afiscontrolled by the valve j.

The burned or dead gases are exhausted from chambers a and (6 in thefollowing manner: Each contracted cylinder-section a is provided with aseries of circumferential exitports Z, which are so arranged that theyare uncovered by piston-section I) when piston B is in its outermostposition. These ports Z open into an exhaust-chamber m, that extendsaround cylinder-section a. From chamber at the exhaust-gases escapethrough pipe m. For the exhaust of the dead gases from chamber a I formin the step a an exit-port n, that opens into a valve-chamber 0, havingvalve 0. The stem 0 of valve 0 is engaged by a cam (Z fast on shaft (Z.The valve 0 is so timed that it will open during the inward stroke ofpiston B, and thus the dead gases may escape during such stroke throughport a, chambers 0 m, and pipe on.

The cylinder-sections a may be provided With cooling-water jackets 1),while the sections (0 do not require such jackets, because they arecooled by the large quantity of air entering at each stroke throughcheckvalves a As the operation in both cylinders A A is the same, thatof the left cylinder only will be described.

The left side of Fig. 1 shows the position of the piston B and valves 0,j, and u at or immediately after the explosion of the compressed chargein chamber (4 Valve ,7' had previously been closed by the pressure ofthe compressed charge within chamber a in manner hereinafter described.\V hen the explosion takes place, valve 0 is opened by cam (Z, so as toadmit the exploded gases from chamber a to working chamber a" throughport 0, while valve 0 is closed to prevent the exploded gases fromescaping through chamber 0 into the exhaust. It will be seen that by thearrangement thus far described the exploded charge will simultaneouslyact upon the head 6 of piston-section I) and upon the step 72 ofpiston-section b, so that the charge is completely expanded andutilized. During the forward stroke of the piston the air in chamber awill be com- This compressed air will, through ressed.

pipe Z; and check-valve 7e, act upon the upper side of valve j; but asthe pressure of the compressed air is considerably less than thepressure of the exploded gases in chamber a" the valve 7' will remainclosed. When the piston B arrives atits terminal position, valve 0 isclosed by cam 61. At the same time the exhaust-ports will be uncovered,so that the dead gases from chamber a will escape through chamber m andpipe 911/. By the escape of the gases from chamber a the pressuretherein will decrease, so that at a certain moment the air-pressure atthe top of valve j will overcome the gas-pressure at the bot tom of thevalve, and thus the latter Will open. (The opening of the valve j mayalso take place before the completion of the outward stroke in case theair-pressure acting against one side of valve jexceeds, for any cause,the.

gas-pressure acting against its opposite side.) A strong air-blast willnow enter chamber a" through pipe l: and valve j and completely scavengechamber a. When the pressure of the air-blast has been expended, thevalve j will be closed by its spring 7". Thus at the beginning of theback stroke of the piston chamber (0 contains pure air, which will becompressed, together with the gas, to be introduced in mannerhereinafter described. Immediately after the piston B has commenced itsback stroke the valve will be closed by suction in chamber a and pipeis. At the back stroke of the piston valve 0 is opened by its cam (P, sothat the dead gases in chamber a will be driven out by the step 6through port n, chambers 0 m, and pipe m. During the back stroke ofpiston B the piston 7& of the gas-pump H also moves inward to compressthe gas within the pump for the subsequent admission of the compressedgas into the explosion-chamber (f. This admission of the gas will takeplace When valve 11 is opened for a certain time, depending upon thework of the engine, such time being automatically regulated by thegovernor in the usual manner. The gas under superior pressure will afterpassing valve '5 open valvej, so that it enters the chamber ('6 filled.with fresh air. After the proper quantity of gas has been admitted intochamber at" valve 2" is closed, and then valve jwill also be closed byits spring j. The mixture of gas and air is now compressed in chamber aby piston B, the valves 0 and j being closed. After the compression iscompleted the explosive mixture is ignited in suitable manner, and theoperation is repeated.

The invention is equally applicable to double acting and single-actingexplosive engines.

hat I claim is- 1. In an explosive-engine, a stepped cylinder and astepped piston that form an explosion-chamber and a compressed-airchamber at opposite ends of the piston, and an intermediateexpansion-chamber between the reduced piston-section and the wall of theenlarged cylinder-section,combined with a valvecontrolled by-passconnecting the explosionchamber with the expansion-chamber, and a pipeconnecting the compressed-air chamber with the explosion-chamber,substantially as specified.

2. In an explosive-engine, a stepped cylinder and a stepped piston thatform an explosion-chamber and a compressed-air chamber at opposite endsof the piston, and an intermediate expansion-chamber between the reducedpiston-section and the wall of the enlarged cylinder-section, combinedwith a pipe connecting the compressed-air chamber with theexplosion-chamber,a fuel-magazine, a pipe for connecting the same withthe explosionchamber, means for controlling the flow of compressed airand fuel, to the explosionchamber, and with a valve-controlled by-passconnecting the explosion-chamber with the expansion-chamber,substantially as specified.

3. In an explosive-engine, a stepped cylinder and a stepped piston thatform an explosion-chamber and a compressed-air chamber at opposite endsof the piston, and an intermediate expansion-chamber between the reducedpiston-section and the wall of the enlarged cylinder-section, combinedwith a Valvecontrolled by-pass connecting the explosionchamber with theexpansion-chamber, an exhaust-chamber, ports that connect said chamberwith the explosion-chamber and expansion-chamber respectively, and anexit-valve ifin ctlhe exhaust-chamber, substantially as speci- 4:. In anexplosive-engine, a stepped cylinder and a stepped piston that form anexplosion-chamber and a compressed-air chamber at opposite ends of thepiston, and an intermediate eXpansion-chamber between the reducedpiston-section and the wall of the enlarged cylinder-section, combinedwith a pipe connecting the compressed-air chamber with theexplosion-chamber, a fuel-magazine, a pipe for connecting the same withthe explosionchamber, means for controlling the flow of compressed airand fuel to the explosion-chamher, a valve-controlled by-pass connectingthe explosion-chamber with the expansion-chamber, a valve-controlledexhaust-chamber, and ports that connect said chamber with theexplosion-chamber and expansion-chamber, respectively, substantially asspecified.

Signed by me at New York city, (Manhattan,) New York, this 12th day ofSeptember, 1903.

ROBERT MILLER.

Witnesses:

B. N. OHMERS, J. MILLER.

